The kitty for a new animal shelter has built up to about $24,000 following a fundraiser Saturday night that raised another $4,000 for the cause, according to Riverhead Move the Animal Shelter founder Denise Lucas.
The Riverhead woman, who decided last fall to take on raising the money for a new animal shelter after she visited the existing shelter on Youngs Avenue with her niece, has now taken on a side job: outfitting a dog park at the as-yet unopened town park in Calverton.
Councilman James Wooten came up with the idea of a dog park at the long-anticipated new town recreational facility, which will also offer ballfields and walking trails to town residents. He pitched it to fellow Town Board members last month, seeking allocation of recreation fund fees to buy fencing and accessories for the park.
Though the proposal met with no objections, recreation fees — contributed by residential developers on a per-lot basis — are depleted after several years of the current real estate slump. It was unclear how quickly the town would be able to fund the dog park.
That's when Lucas stepped in.
She told the councilman she'd take care of raising the money and getting necessary dog park furnishings donated.
"I'd like to see it all taken care of without dipping into any town funds," Lucas said.
She decided to direct to the dog park project all funds raised in the 50-50 raffle held at every RMTAS event. The raffle raised almost $500 Saturday night.
She's struck a deal for fencing with a friend of hers who owns Residential Fence Company in Ridge. The company is splitting the cost of the fence with the organization, she said, and she'll raise the funds for the other half of the cost. Lucas said other friends and acquaintances have committed to putting up the funds for various items needed in the park: a bench for human companions, a fire hydrant, garbage containers, and "poop bags" and bag dispensers.
The fence company is ready to install the fence just as soon as the site is ready for it, Lucas said.
That will depend on progress made by the town, which is prepping the site this week. Buildings and grounds crew members are clearing and leveling land for a new parking lot near the center of the new town park.
The dog park will be built adjacent to the parking lot, recreation superintendent Ray Coyne said Tuesday. Coyne said he's rethought the original plan to put the dog park next to the ballfields, as discussed at a recent Town Board work session, heeding criticism that the two uses would not be very compatible.
"It makes more sense to have it right near to the parking lot anyway," Coyne said. "It's centrally located."
Councilman George Gabrielsen said Corrazini Asphalt is planning to do subsurface work on the parking lot next week.
The long-delayed ballfields will finally be open this summer, Gabrielsen said. A Memorial Day weekend grand opening is planned.
The dog park will either be opened at the same time or some time before that, possibly by the middle of April.
For Lucas, the sooner the better.
"I like to keep things moving," she said.
Certainly no one can accuse her of dragging her feet. She's had one event per month since the first fundraiser in October. A January spaghetti dinner was postponed by inclement weather and is set for this Saturday at the Elks Lodge, the third event this month. It's just about sold out. (If you bought tickets for the event in January, be sure to bring them with you this Saturday, Lucas said.)
Lucas said she likes staging events that are affordable and can attract as much of the community as possible, to raise awareness about what she says is a desperate need for a better facility.
"My friends, like me, don't have a lot of money, but they like to go out and have a good time — if it's affordable," Lucas said. This approach may be a lot of footwork and planning for her, but it's more inclusive for the community. And, she points out, it also helps the local economy by having numerous events throughout the community.
This past Saturday, 150 people turned out for an event at the Moose Lodge, which featured a reunion of the band Uncle Fester.
As a follow up to this Saturday's spaghetti dinner,Lucas has a Leap Year party planned for Feb. 29 at Cody's BBQ and Grill. (Tickets are $25.)
On March 29, she's having a "politicians versus truck drivers" cookoff, taking place at HyTing Restaurant, when council members James Wooten and Jodi Giglio will go up against some truck driver friends of Lucas' in a contest judged by partygoers. ($20 ticket includes complete buffet.)
On April 29, there's a big bash planned at Calverton Links, which Lucas is calling "Hogs and Hot Rods Rock the Shelter." It will feature a North Fork poker run in the morning and five bands playing through the afternoon and into the evening, she said.
May will bring a fluke fishing charter trip with Fishy Business out of Orient Point. The charter boat is donating all proceeds to RMTAS.
So far in June, Lucas has a benefit concert planned at the Vail-Leavitt on June 2, when the British band Bangers and Mash takes the stage.
Photo captions:
Top- Denise Lucas on Sunday as she delivered gifts to the animal shelter the day after a successful fundraiser at the Moose Lodge. RiverheadLocal photo by Peter Blasl.
Middle- Riverhead recreation superintendent Ray Coyne discussed plans for a new town dog park at the former Grumman site Tuesday. RiverheadLocal photo by Peter Blasl.
RiverheadLOCAL slideshow photos by Katie Blasl
